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Computing languages in other countries
Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 11:23 pm
by tarrigo
This may seem like the weirdest question ever, but I was curious if they write php code in english all over the world?
Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 3:33 am
by timvw
Offcourse not.
(But that doesn't want to say i find it a good idea to use variable names, add comments, ... in another language than english.. )
thanks
Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 1:08 pm
by tarrigo
I was curious because if I wanted to go work in Germany for a while or even Belgium for that matter, if there would be major issues for developers in hiring me.
Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2006 1:25 am
by Kieran Huggins
I think what he's asking about is function names, etc... check out the German "Sprachreferenz":
http://www.php.net/manual/de/ref.array.php
They seem fairly "English" to me!
I would be more concerned out communication with your co-workers, as well as reading/writing comments. (You
do write comments, right?)
Cheers,
Kieran
Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2006 3:37 am
by timvw
In my experience all developers understand english fairly well

Almost all the shops i'v seen, deliver their specifications in english... And want the implementation (including comments and extra documents) to be delivered in english..
On the other hand, a friend once told me they have to use dutch names for variables, methods, comments, ... only to ensure that their work wouldn't be outsourced... (Personaly i don't think thats a good strategy, but that's another discussion)
Conclusion: It will depend on the place where you end up and in my experience larger shops (starting from 50+ developers will almost always use english as 'working language'... For after-hours-activities and social contact you'll have to learn their native language though...